Everyone will remember Monday’s trade as the “Carmelo trade,” but here in Denver – especially in Park Hill – fans will also remember it as the trade that sent the hometown hero away from his hometown.

Chauncey Billups called me today from New York City, explaining his swirling emotions after being traded with Anthony from the Nuggets to the Knicks.

“It’s weird, you know what I’m saying,” said Billups, who hoped to retire as a Nugget and then work in the Nuggets front office. “It’s kind of how this game goes, and I think people understand that part of the game – it’s a business. It’s just weird, it’s crazy.”

Billups moved his family home in 2008, upon being traded from Detroit to Denver. But on Monday, he had to tell his family he was heading to New York.

“That right there was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life,” Billups said. “That’s tough, man. That right there was the toughest thing for me – the family aspect of it. Basketball is basketball, I’ve been doing that all my life, that won’t change, wherever I’m at. But it’s the family aspect that people don’t understand. I got to go home and face my three daughters, I have to face my wife, and tell them that daddy’s leaving. And daddy doesn’t have a choice, daddy doesn’t have an option. And that I have to go in 24 hours.”

Nuggets executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri made a heartfelt public apology Tuesday to Billups and his family. They admitted they tried desperately to keep Billups out of the trade that Anthony forced Denver to make. But in the end, Kroenke said, “we came to the realization that in order for us to maximize our return, we had to make the trade bigger (and include Billups).

Asked if he knew about the Nuggets’ apology, Billups said: “I heard about it. That’s cool. That’s a nice gesture. My family appreciates that. At the same time, I’m in New York City – and my family and kids are in Denver. …

“(The apology) is a great gesture. But at some point during this process, they made a decision. But I don’t take it personally.”

Asked if he still hopes he will end up working for the Nuggets, Billups said, “We’ll see how it all works out. We’ll just kind of see. I’ll say this – everyone knows that I love Denver. It’s always going to be my home. Everything I do in the community, I’m still going to do. My foundation, the AAU program, nothing at all is going to change. I’m always going to be Denver. I love the fans, the treated me great, they showed me a lot of love – and I appreciate that.”

Billups, of course, is a hero in these parts – he was arguably the greatest high-school player in Colorado history, and then he chose to stay in-state and play college ball at CU, before going pro.

He won an NBA title with Detroit in 2004 – asked if he thinks the Melo-Stoudemire-Billups Knicks can make a run for the title, he said, “I hope so – I’m looking forward to the challenge, man. You know I love that.”

Money ain’t everything–especially when your’e already used to making tons of it. It’s hard to get excited about more of what you already have–he’d rather be home in Denver with his family.

Bo

Boo Flipping Hoo! Get over it. For $27 million I think your family will be fine. These pampered athletes make me sick. Who I really feel terrible for is the family that lost their Dad to a terrible car accident on C-470 last Sunday. That my friends is a family hardship. Good Grief have we lost our perspective.

Tom Fiore

Does his family staying in Denver mean that he will be back in our town next season?

Joeymiaroc

Hey, he’s still a person—and a husband and father who will miss his family and his home. I also think he’s a very classy guy!

TW22

Billups was the most professional basketball player in recent Nuggets history – class act, played his tail off, native, had all the loyalty in the world to Denver. Sad to see him go – he will be missed. I truly hope he comes back as part of the Nuggets Organization in one way or another

John

There’s few people in professional sports classier than Chauncey. He makes a lot of money, so what? He works hard for it, and puts a lot back in to community. Are professional athletes worth all their getting paid, probably not. However some take it more seriously than others. Chauncey is a prime example. And money, or no money, being separated from your family, when your a family guy, is tough.

Eric

I would go work in Antartica for that kind of pay. He can spend a few (more ) months away and no one in his family will ever have a financial concern. CB we’ll miss you, but DO NOT feel one bit of sympathy for you.

Sam Dawg

No money can counter the emotional feeling of being pulled away from your family. I feel sorry for if you don’t understand that very human feeling.

Vode

Sam, let’s relax a little with the emotional tug of being away. This man is not climbing telephone poles for a living. He is a professional athlete. NBA players spend half of their season on the road. There are 28 games remaining in the regular season, and exactly half of them are outside of NY, which means he was spending that time away from home anyway. Somehow, I think he’ll make it to April and be able to spend the following five months — every single day if he wishes — with his family. I’m just trying to bring a little perspective to the conversation, that’s all.

micah29

Your perspective is misguided. Save your perspective for people like Carmelo. If it was not for Carmelo’s selfish demands, Chauncey would still be a Nugget.

Vode

Sure micah29, I’ll let Carmelo know that it’s his fault Chauncey had to leave his grieving family in Denver to toil on the basketball court 3 to 4 nights a week. I’ll leave it to you to start the Chauncey Billups’ Family Foundation with a toll-free number. In the meantime, please understand that professional athletes are subject to trade between teams. Unless they have a no-trade clause in their contract, it’s part of the deal. In return, they are incredibly overpaid and, in some instances, financially set for life. Forgive me if my heart doesn’t bleed for Billups while he plays out his enormous contract in front of adoring fans and sets his family estate up for the next several decades. Daddy will be home in six to eight weeks, possibly for good if he asks the Knicks to buy him out at season’s end. Something tells me he’ll take the $14 mil over the $3.7 mil buyout.

Mffl6yhnmu77

Our superstar resigned in Dallas what did your superstar do? I have always dis-liked the Carmelo “me first” attitude he played with holding the ball most of the time. Hopefully now they can show the true potential the team has. Chauncey did more for Denver in is short time than Carmelo ever did. Chauncey brought direction to a team that did not have much going prior to his arrival. Hopefully a coaching change can spark new life to that team as well. Time to let Karl go or else he might try to bring Koby back to fill in for Carmelo. As a Mavericks fan I won’t lose any sleep. As a basketball fan it’s a shame what Carmelo did to Denver. He might as well make 1 hour announcement on ESPN.

Tpaulrossi1

Vode, that is pretty ignorant. No matter how much money you make, it is hard to be away from your family. Looks like Chauncey will keep his family in Denver for the time being. And Denver is better for it. I hope that Chauncey can some day come back and work for the Nuggets front office, if he would want to. He does some great things for the City and the State. He is a class act and will be sorely missed, mostly for his basketball but also for his influence in the community. Could care less about Melo, he didn’t want to be here, Chauncey is the real loss in all of this. He is a hard worker and was a big leader in the clubhouse. Chauncey, Denver loves you and wants you to come home when your career finishes. God Bless.

Vode

You call it ignorant, I call it a reality check. 99 percent of the world only wish to have the problems Chauncey Billups has today.

Brad Lee

Vode – I agree, it must definitely be nice to be talented enough to be an NBA All-Star and Champion most of the time… I do have to add however, I wouldn’t want to leave my family with no notice either. Without bringing up his contributions to the community, I definitely have to agree with David as well, what a classy guy indeed….

Amcra1

This dude Vode has a real problem. I totally resent anyone who does not feel at least the little bit empthetic. Here this guy is raising his daughters 13, 10, and 4 and suddenly he has to leave them and move to the East Coast mind you. They are used to seeing him everyday and all of sudden he’s not there anymore. Now granted, he didn’t pass away but when you are a family guy like this is you’re going to be sorely missed as well. Why does money have to be an issue? Yeah he’s getting paid, but is that really going to ease the hurt of his daughters not having him there (even if it is for a few months). The world has become crazy IMO. Here this man is showing his genuine care and concern for his family, and people have the nerve to discuss money and his salary. That’s some crazy bulls***.

Bobhaycock

I too am sad to see Chauncy go. He is a total class act and brings nothing but positives to any team he is part of. And I feel bad for him and his family. With that said, I can’t help but think about our military who have to do 2-3 sometimes 4 tours in combat. They have no choice in that and their families have to be without them for long periods of time, plus not knowing if they will return in a box or not. And they do that for a lot less money than NBA players. So, let’s get real here.

Nugs

Get off Vode for a bit. Has anyone thought about time away as an investment? He’s 34 and retiring in the next few years. Guess who’s going to be home ALL THE TIME with his children with money saved for their grandchildren. Come on… my dad was gone years at a time (all year) overseas and certainly not making millions. They’ll be just fine.

Mr Bill

That is one way to look at it no doubt. But still kind of sucks as he has already been traded like 4-5 times in his career. I am sure he felt he would finish up back home and would have if Carmelo wasn’t so selfish…

joeygrcveringknksfan

The real superstars and real heroes in this country are the men and women in the armed forces who really dont have a choice where they end up.Except the do it for 40,000 a year and the love of there country and those families may NEVER see those husbands and fathers again.Poor chauncey still has the off season and lots of other days to see and taalk to his family!! hes a pro athlete and im sure he can adjust and get over it just as many others!! At the end of the day hes just a ball player and cares NOTHING about you or your family, Just saying…………..

Uniteprod

I got 99 probems but Chauncey ain’t one. Welcome mr. Fetlon.

Crunk3538

carmelo is a bitch

DarrylGibbens

FINALLY a comment I agree with ! Chauncey and and Champ are the type of players that I admire – not the prima donnas or parolees that seem to dominate todays professional sports. I sincerely wish Chauncey the best of luck – and I HOPE that the Nuggets work out another deal to get him back here – where he belongs !

Ttr04

If you think the price of education is expensive….try the price of ignorance! Money cannot buy the love he has for his family or the happiness we feels when he’s with them.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times.